FHBECD Report 8/01

FAIR HARBOR BEACH EROSION CONTROL DISTRICT

UPDATE ON REPLENISHMENT PROJECTS SEPTEMBER 30, 2001

FHBECD, in cooperation with Saltaire and Dunewood, is pursuing several alternative or complementary projects to get sand on our beach as soon as possible.

1. Off-shore dredging.

Coastal Planning and Engineering (CPE) presented alternatives for moderate or large replenishment projects. Costs are estimates.

Project	Total c.y,	FH c.y.	Cost per House per year
1994 Project 10yr bond	465,000	179,000	$550
Future project estimates
Moderate/Close borrow site	834,000	233,000	$585
Large/Close borrow site	1,300,000	375,000	$855
Moderate/Far borrow site	834,000	233,000	$1,036
Large/Far borrow site	1,300,000	375,000	$1,576
Trucked sand	15,000	5,000	$160

Note that the moderate size project would give us more sand than the 1994 project. If we can use the close borrow site, the cost is only slightly higher. The far borrow site would be much more expensive. Estimates assume 7 yr 4.5% bond, 370 homes., Lonelyville participation. Final price and sand volume subject to recent survey and actual price quotes.

2. Fire Island Inlet Sand
We requested use of sand from Army Corps of Engineers (ACE) periodic dredging of Fire Island Inlet. We have not received the official response from ACE. NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) indicated a policy against placing the sand East of the dredge site, except to Robert Moses State Park. However, they indicated that we could dredge from the inlet at our expense. Because of the increased distance between the beach and the borrow-site this alternative is more expensive than off-shore dredging, unless the ACE assumes part of the cost. Investigation of FI Inlet sand is continuing.

3. Trucking sand from Democrat Point.
The sand may be available, and “free” although we may be responsible for replacing it. We need permits from NYSDEC, NYSDOS, LI State Park Commission, Fire Island National Seashore and possibly other agencies. We were told by DEC that there is no specific definition of “emergency” required. Disturbingly, the National Park Service is strongly opposed. Estimate for permits without environmental impact study was $2,350 for FH.

As background, in 1994 we (FH, Dunewood and Saltaire) trucked ~12,000 c.y. at $18/ c.y., partly paid by the communities and in part by property owners. C. Bowman recommends against trucking sand onto an eroding beach. If we elect to truck sand and place 2.5c.y./ft along the dune face to stabilize the dunes, we would get 5,000c.y. at $12 per c.y. or $60,000. It may be possible to get a cheaper contractor, however.

As background, note that erosion in FH was ~39,000c.y. Oct. 1999-Oct. 2000. Trucking capacity is 900c.y./day, making large volumes impracticable, as well as very expensive.

Proposed Directions
1.Permit for large project, since it does not require doing the large project, but increases our options.

2. Proceed with permit application for Democrat Point Sand. Can proceed with permit application, but stop at EIS. If the condition of the beach is declared to be an emergency, we may be able to truck in sand to save homes and stabilize the dunes without the EIS. If emergency is declared, we may also speed up permit process for dredging.

3. Continue investigation of FI Inlet sand.

Erica Fried, Deputy Commissioner, Frank Burns, Jerome Feder,
Nevio Maggiora, Wells Newell, Claire Walsh,
FHBECD Committee